Hand-stamp.



Patented Dec. 26, I899. F. J. BECKER.

H A N D S T A M P (Application filed Dec. 12, 1898.)

(No Model.)

v %fim, INVENTUH.

I as 00., FNOYO-UTND..WASHINGTON a c NITED STATES PATENT FICE.

FRANK J. BECKER, OF HAMILTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TI'IADDEUS A. NEELY, OFMUNOIE, INDIANA.

HAN D-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,959, dated December26, 1 99. Application filed December 12, 1898. Serial No. 699,062. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK J'. BECKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamilton, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Stamps, of whichthe following is a specification.

M yinvention relates to hand-stamps of that class used in post-officesfor dating and canceling the stamps on letters or other mail-matter; andthe objects of my improvement are to provide means to cause'the type toautomatically conform themselves to uneven surfaces and to provide auniversally-adjustable handle that will automatically adjust itself tothe position of the operators hand in relation to the surface to bestamped. These objects are attained in the following-described manner,as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is avertical section of the stamp; Fig. 2, an inverted plan. Figs. 3 and 4show the improved form of the type.

In the drawings, 1 represents the handle or stem, provided with ferrule2. The lower extremity 3 of the ferrule is formed concave or cup-shaped.Ball at is formed integral with stem 5, that occupies the axis of thehandle and is rigidly fastened therein by means of screw 6, which clampsthe handle between washer 7 and collar 8, formed on the stem near theball thereon. Casing 9, preferably circular in form, has a dependingannular flange 11, that forms chamber 12. Said flange is threaded on theouter surface to adjustably engage with base 13 by means of internalthreads formed on its upwardly-projecting annular flange 14. Said basecontains slots 15, of any desirable form, in its surface and adapted toreceive the respective dating and canceling type 16 and 17.

A suitable yielding or elastic substance 18, preferably india-rubber,occupies the entire space of chamber 12 in the casing and serves to keepthe type properly in place in the slots in the base. The top portion ofthe casing in the line of its axis terminates in an externally-threadedboss 19, and an annular groove 21, formed in the top of the casing,encircles its base. The end of the boss is formed with a concave recessor socket 22 to snugly engage with ball 4 and form a universal orball-and-socket joint; The ball is retained in the recess or socket 22by means of intern all ythreaded cap 23 being adjustable on the boss 19.Said cap contains an axial opening 20 in its top for the stem and collarthereon to be passed therethrough and to permit a limited lateralmovement therein of that portion of the stem between the collar and theball. A concavo-convex washer 24:, formed of some suitable yieldingsubstance, as leather, rubber, or felt, may be interposed between theball and the cap to permit movement of the handle, While it is clampedsufliciently tight to prevent the parts from rattling. Washer 25, formedalso of similar suitable yielding material, is seated in annular groove21 to press the edge of cap 23 and lock it in proper adj ustment on theboss against becoming loose during the jarring action of the stamp.

The dating-type 16 are each preferably in form the inverted frustum of apyramid, withtheir sides converging toward the face and with lips 26projecting from opposite sides of their respective bases to engage withthe inside of base 13 on opposite sides of the slots 15 therein.

The face of each type has an appropriate character raised thereon tocollectively set up the desired name, date, &c. The type to be used inthe circular slot are formed in such manner that opposite sides thereofwill coineide with radii of the arc of the slot, and in addition to theappropriate character the segment 27 of a circle is also raised thereon.The type 17, which form the canceling portion of the stamp, are thin andwide, with lips 28 projecting from the large ends to engage with thebase on opposite edges of the slot that contains them. Any appropriatecharacter or design may be raised on their faces collectively. Then thetype are properly arranged and inserted from above through the slots inthe base and the base is 5 engaged with the casing, the tops of the typemay be pressed with more or less force against the elastic substance 18,in which manner they are retained in proper position and are permittedto automatically conform themselves to uneven surfaces and resume theirnormal positions by the reaction of the elastic or flexible backing 18.

In the use of a hand-stamp the position of the operators hand does notalways carry the handle of the stamp in a position perpendicular to thestamping table or surface, which will result in one portion of the edgeof the stamp making a heavier or the only impression. This objection isovercome by means of the ball-and-socket joint, which permits the handleto take the proper slant at the first stroke of the stamp on the tableand to retain or automatically change its position, as best suited, tothe continued or changed position of the operators hand in relation tothe table.

Having fully described my improvement, what I claim as my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a hollow casing, a handle thereon adjustable atdifferent angles thereto, an elastic cushion within the hollow of thecasing, a base formed with slots and adjustable on the casing toward theface of the cushion, and type formed separately with lateral shouldersand with convergent sides and arranged through the slots in the baseunder the pressure of the cushion, whereby an independent lateral andlongitudinal movement of each type is permitted in conforming todifferent surfaces.

2. The combination with a cylindrical casing, a handle, aball-and-socket joint engaging the handle with the casing, an elasticcushion within the casing and a base formed with curved slots andadjustable on the easing toward the cushion therein, of type each formedwith outwardly-convergent sides and having a flange on its face in thearc of a circle to correspond with the curvature of the slots inthe'base, said type being maintained in the slots under more or lesspressure by the cushion, whereby the face of the type may conform toplanes at different angles to each other as represented by undulatorysurfaces.

3. The combination with a casing, a base adjustable thereon and formedwith slots for type having convergent sides of type formed withconvergent sides and depending loosely through the slots and a yieldingsubstance intel-posed between the casing and base and arranged to exertmore or less pressure on the type as desired.

FRANK J. BECKER.

Witnesses:

J. J. RICHARDSON, ROBERT S. CARR.

